'I didn't expect Hatake Sakumo to be the one overseeing things here,' Jiraiya thought to himself, his eyes flickering with curiosity.
Hatake Sakumo was a prodigy of Konoha.
Though only a few years older than them, he was already a jōnin, and rumors suggested he was not far from reaching the level of an elite jōnin—a truly formidable presence.
He was also the father of Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi's remarkable talent was undoubtedly due to inheriting Sakumo's exceptional genes.
Yet, despite his brilliance, Hatake Sakumo was a tragic figure.
His contributions to Konoha were immense, with countless victories under his belt. Enemies respected him as the White Fang of Konoha, a name that inspired terror during the Second Shinobi War.
And yet, such a genius ninja ultimately perished at the hands of his own people—a fate as heartbreaking as it was lamentable.
Sakumo had chosen to abandon a mission to save a comrade, an act of compassion that should have been celebrated.
But when he returned to the village, he was met with scorn and misunderstanding.
Even the comrade he had saved turned against him, blaming him for the failure of the mission.
Not a single person stood up to defend Sakumo.
Overwhelmed by despair and disillusioned with the village he once loved, Sakumo ultimately took his own life.
The root of his downfall lay in his immense popularity among civilians. His reputation had grown so high that it threatened the ambitions of others, making him a target of secret manipulation.
It was highly likely that Danzo and the Third Hokage played a role in stirring public opinion against him.
Without their interference, it was unthinkable that so many would turn on him for choosing the lives of comrades over the success of a mission.
Sacrificing a mission to save a teammate was not a shameful act—it was the essence of what it meant to be a ninja.
"Set out now," Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed. "I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish."
"Yes, Sensei," Jiraiya and the others replied, immediately destroying their mission scroll as per protocol.
A capable ninja was expected to memorize the contents of a mission scroll and then destroy it to prevent any chance of information leaking.
If someone forgot the details, they'd have to shamefully request a replacement from their superior. Forget a second time, and it was a clear sign they weren't cut out to be a ninja.
With no time to waste, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade set out for their mission destination.
...
"Judging by the terrain, we should be close to the target location," Orochimaru observed several days later, scanning their surroundings.
"At our current pace, we should arrive within an hour," Jiraiya added with a nod.
Their journey had been remarkably uneventful so far, without any signs of danger.
"The scenery here is beautiful," Tsunade remarked, admiring the lush landscape. The region, near the borders of the Land of Rain, had a humid climate and fertile soil, teeming with vibrant flowers and vegetation.
The air was fragrant with the scent of blossoms, a natural byproduct of the area's abundant flora.
Thanks to this climate, Konoha cultivated a wide variety of medicinal herbs in the region.
After another hour, their view expanded into a vast plain, where rows of herbs stretched across the land. The air was thick with the smell of medicine.
Scattered across the plain were small wooden huts and a handful of Konoha shinobi patrolling the area.
"We've finally arrived," Tsunade sighed, wiping the sweat from her brow. The long journey had left them exhausted, and the monotony of travel had been particularly draining.
Before they could approach the plain, a Konoha ninja spotted them and rushed over.
The man, a middle-aged chūnin, wore a uniform adorned with the symbol of the Sarutobi clan—a nimble monkey embroidered on his sleeve.
He stopped at a safe distance, his stance guarded as he eyed the group warily.
"We've been sent by the Hokage to provide reinforcements. Here are our identification papers," Jiraiya explained, tossing the documents to the chūnin.
After carefully verifying their authenticity, the man relaxed and broke into a smile.
"I didn't expect the Hokage to send reinforcements—especially his three disciples. Welcome. I'm Sarutobi Jūrō. Let me take you to meet Captain Sakumo."
"Thank you for your guidance," Jiraiya replied. The group followed Jūrō toward one of the simple wooden huts.
"Captain, the reinforcements from the village have arrived—the Hokage's personal students," Jūrō announced, knocking lightly on the door.
The door creaked open, and a man stepped out. He wore a white ninja uniform, with a short blade strapped to his back.
"So, the Hokage sent you, huh?" Hatake Sakumo sighed, rubbing his face. "This is going to be troublesome."
With the border situation so unstable, the presence of the Hokage's students only added pressure. If anything happened to them, the consequences would be dire.
"Don't underestimate us, Captain. We won't be a burden," Jiraiya declared, his expression darkening at the perceived slight.
Sakumo's casual dismissal was clear, and it stung.
Given his reputation as a genius ninja, it wasn't surprising that Sakumo carried a certain air of arrogance. His prowess had earned him the title of Konoha's White Fang, and some even whispered that his strength rivaled that of the Third Hokage.
For someone like him, confidence was inevitable.
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